The Namibia Nurses Union has expressed concerns over the health ministry's decision to freeze new nurse recruitment, citing critical staff shortages in public health facilities. Union secretary general Junias Shilunga stated that the ministry's move is unfortunate, especially when thousands of qualified nurses remain unemployed despite the urgent need for their services. The union demands a breakdown of nurses employed and vacancies still unfilled.
According to Shilunga, the public health facilities are battling a critical shortage of nurses, particularly enrolled nurses. He emphasized that filling vacant positions would improve the efficiency of health facilities and the quality of healthcare, while reducing burnout and excessive workloads among nurses. The union believes that the ministry's decision will negatively affect the mental health of nurses and the overall healthcare system.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services announced the recruitment freeze due to limited finances and adverse external economic developments affecting domestic revenue. Executive director of health and social services Penda Ithindi stated that recruitment would resume in the next financial year, beginning in April 2027. The ministry has allocated N$259 million for the recruitment of healthcare workers, including nurses, in the 2026/27 financial year.
By the end of September 2026, about 1,770 healthcare workers have been recruited, including approximately 1,320 nurses. However, the ministry did not provide a breakdown of how many registered nurses and enrolled nurses were recruited or how many vacancies remained in each category. The ministry will continue to fill positions that become vacant through retirement and other natural depletion.
During the 2025/26 mid-year budget review, the ministry received N$185 million, which was used to recruit 814 additional staff members between December 2025 and March 2026. These included 449 nurses, 134 medical officers and dentists, 103 allied health professionals, and 107 administrative support staff. The recruitment helped ease pressure on health facilities and enabled the introduction of 24-hour services at several clinics in the Khomas region.
The ministry recognizes the commitment of unemployed qualified nurses to serve across the country, including in rural areas. It intends to improve rural working conditions through investment in decent accommodation as resources allow. The ministry also agrees to collate available vacant positions in a database accessible to unemployed nursing graduates and other healthcare professionals.
The ministry has called on unemployed nurses to ensure their details are updated with the Nursing Board of Namibia under the Health Professions Council of Namibia ahead of future recruitment. The union and the ministry are expected to engage in further discussions to address the critical staff shortages and find a solution to the recruitment freeze.
Key points
- The Namibia Nurses Union is questioning the health ministry's decision to halt new nurse recruitment.
- The ministry cites limited finances and adverse external economic developments as reasons for the recruitment freeze.
- About 1,770 healthcare workers, including 1,320 nurses, have been recruited by the end of September 2026.
